Michigan
Princeton
Wolverines Win Third Straight CWPA Championship
4/29/2018 5:04:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan made it three consecutive CWPA titles and eight in 18 years with an 11-8 win over top-seed Princeton.
» Julia Sellers was named CWPA Championship MVP.
» U-M clinches an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.
Site: Lewisburg, Pa. (Kinney Natatorium)
Event: CWPA Championship Game
Score: #10 Michigan 11, #10 Princeton 8
Records: Michigan (32-8, 7-1 CWPA), Princeton (23-8, 8-0 CWPA)
Next U-M Event: Monday, April 30 -- NCAA Selection Show (NCAA.com), 8 p.m.
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LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The No. 2 seed University of Michigan water polo team defeated top-seeded Princeton, 11-8, to claim its third consecutive Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship on Sunday (April 29) at Kinney Natatorium.
"If you break down Team 18, we have faced so many injuries and adversity throughout the year and kept going," said head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. "It is a vindication and rewarding to win a championship in spite of everything we faced. It feels really good."
The three-peat marks the second string of three consecutive titles for the Wolverines as they won three in a row from 2008-10. U-M has won eight CWPA championships in the 18 years of its program.
"There has only been one other three-peat in program history, so it is a blessing," said Leonardi. "You have to stay healthy and be good for multiple years. It shows the hard work our coaching staff and student-athletes have put into it. We are going to enjoy this one."
Water polo's championship gives the University of Michigan athletic program 10 conference championships so far in 2017-18, the first time since 2007-08 and fifth time the school has won double-digit conference titles.
"I feel proud and am so happy that this team has come together," said senior captain Caroline Anderson. "This team is special because we have been through so much and have overcome it."
Sunday's game was a rematch from last year's championship, a 5-4 Michigan win in Bloomington, Indiana. It was the third time the two faced off for the coveted conference crown. Princeton won, 7-5, in 2013. With both teams finishing in the top two during the regular season and tied for No. 10 in the latest CWPA Varsity Poll, this matchup figured to be a good one.
The Wolverines got off to a blazing start. On the first possession, they drew a five-meter penalty foul and sophomore Maddy Steere converted. Anderson and junior Julia Sellers followed with goals to make it 3-0 in the first four minutes of the game.
"We came out on fire and were building off each other's energy and momentum," said Anderson. "We inspired each other to keep going and keep pushing."
Princeton got on the board with a five-meter penalty shot at the 3:42 mark, but U-M came right back with three more goals in the opening period to build a 6-1 lead.
Junior Kim Johnson had back-to-back goals in the second quarter to extend the lead to 8-2. She would finish with a game-high four goals.
Princeton clawed its way back into the game with five of the game's next six goals to make it 9-7 with 1:03 left in the third quarter.
Michigan has relied on its defense all season long, and Sunday was no exception, as it allowed only one more goal the rest of the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Heidi Ritner had nine saves and became the first in school history to earn 30 wins in the cage in a single season.
Anderson finished with two goals and two assists. She broke the single-season points record with her performance. She passed Shana Welch's total of 126 in 2007.
Sellers had one goal and one assist and was voted by the coaches as the Most Valuable Performer of the CWPA Championship. Freshman Brittany Prentice also had a great game off the bench with two goals and an assist.
The Wolverines improved to 32-8 on the year, matching the fourth highest win total in school history. Princeton fell to 23-8 overall.
The CWPA Championship earns Michigan an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, to be held May 11-13 in Los Angeles. The Wolverines will learn their fate tomorrow (Monday, April 30) at 8 p.m. on the NCAA Water Polo Selection Show at NCAA.com.
